Sunderland Match Preview

28 December 2018

Marcus Braddock previews the trip to the Stadium of Ligh

It speaks volumes for the calendar year that we've just had that this final game isn't the biggest of the year. A double appearance at Wembley and two games against Premiership West Ham all ranked above this weekend’s action, which is crazy really as Sunderland, are one of the biggest football clubs we'll ever play. Just look back at the history of the North-eastern club, they were the recipients of the worlds first £1000 transfer fee for Alf Common, twice F.A. Cup winners in 1937 and 1973 and six time top flight winners albeit before the second world war.

However, they find themselves on an equal footing with Fleetwood, Southend and Shrewsbury Town this season and certainly haven't had things all their own way. They currently sit in third place with 46 points and two games in hand on Portsmouth and Luton Town above them. Recent form has seen them lose twice in their last five games with Portsmouth and Walsall beating them at home and away respectively.

Top Scorers

Josh Maja 12
Chris Maguire 6
Lynden Gooch 5

Assists

Lynden Gooch 8
Adam Matthews 5
Aiden McGeady 4

Clean Sheets

Six, three at home and three away.

Stats

Sunderland are the third best home team in League One with 25 points from a possible 33.

They've scored an average of 2.18 goals per game at the stadium of light but have conceded an average of 0.9.

The best period of the game for Sunderland going forward is the 15 minutes before half time with 8 goals scored. Defensively their best period has been the first fifteen minutes following half time with no goals conceded all season.

Referee - Scott Oldham from Lancashire. Games this season: 16. Yellow Cards: 16. Red cards: 0.
Assistant Referees: Stephen Wade and Geoffrey Liddle.
Fourth Official: Matthew Dicicco.

Squad News

Neither manager has any new injury worries.

Ahead of kick-off at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland AFC will be observing a period of silence before the game in memory of supporters, former players and club officials who have passed away.

Summary

Given our poor away form this season it's difficult to see a win for Town at the Stadium of Light. It sounds incredibly negative but a draw would be a good result for us or for that matter for any other team in this division. However, It's not impossible and there is no time like the present to change our fortunes.

COYB!!!

Match Previews

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Sunderland 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

29 December 2018

Town earn a point on the road with a 1-1 draw with S

Sunderland: Jon McLaughlin, Bryan Oviedo (Reece James, 45), Lee Cattermole, Chris Maguire, Lynden Gooch (Duncan Watmore, 67), Tom Flanagan, Luke O’Nien, Jack Baldwin, Aiden McGeady (Charlie Wyke, 55), Josh Maja, Max Power.

Subs: Robbin Ruiter, Alim Ozturk, Dylan McGeouch, Charlie Wyke, Duncan Watmore, Reece James, Jerome Sinclair.

Town: Steve Arnold, Ryan Haynes (Omar Beckles, 88), Mat Sadler, Greg Docherty, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 67), Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent (Lee Angol, 76), Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant.

Subs: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Omar Beckles, Lee Angol, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Abo Eisa, Ryan Sears.

Referee: O. Langford

Assistants: S. Wade and G. Liddle

Fourth official: M. Coy

Attendance: 33, 288 (697)

The game came to an end with Town taking a point away from the Stadium Of Light.

Luke Waterfall popped up with a headed goal to give Town a deserved point on the road.

Team News: Sam Ricketts made two changes in the team to face the Black Cats this afternoon. Lenell John-Lewis and Alex Gilliead were brought into the squad. Fejiri Okenabirhie started on the bench and Aaron Amadi-Holloway was withdrawn from the squad due to illness.

First Half:

The first 10 minutes of the half got underway in a highly competitive nature. The home side were looking to attack at any given chance but so were Town.

The main bulk of Town’s chances were coming from the wings where the Shrews were having success through Alex Gilliead and Lenell John-Lewis. Both were firing crosses into the box but were unable to convert the half chances.

Sunderland had undeniable quality going forward and were also troubling Town. Chris Maguire looked sharp on the wing continually looked to spark quality attacks on the right side.

Luke Waterfall broke the deadlock for Town in the 30^th minute. A great free kick delivery from Greg Docherty put the ball in a great position for Waterfall. The defender leaped to make a great connection on the ball and saw it loop into the back of the net – giving Town the lead.

Ollie Norburn was given a yellow card during the latter stages of the half for taking a free kick in the wrong place.

Just seconds later Anthony Grant was also put in the referee’s book - this time for a foul on Sunderland’s Josh Maja.

Sunderland went close with just four minutes left on the clock. Tom Flanagan found himself in the Shrews box, but he was unable to find the target from a tight angle.

Greg Docherty was booked just a minute later for a foul on Aiden McGeady.

The home side managed to find an equaliser just before the break in an eventful half. Bryan Oviedo flashed in a dangerous cross in the Town box and Josh Maja was on the other end to head home the ball in the 43^th minute.

The half came to an end all level and fairly summed up a even half of football between the two sides.

Second Half:

The opening period of the second-half saw the home side pushing to get into the Town half. Town were being tested but Mat Sadler had his defence well organised and sealed out any Black Cats advances.

As the game was approaching the 70^th minute mark it was the home side that were in the ascendancy. The Black Casts were pushing at Town hard and were getting chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Town were being limited to very few chances as the half progressed. Town did have space when breaking forward but the home sides compact defence ensured the Town frontmen could only strike long-range efforts.

Jack Baldwin was booked in the 82^nd minute for fouling lee Angol has he dribbled past his man.

Ryan Haynes was another player booked in a busy game for the referee. The left-back looked to have got the ball but the ref judged his tackle as a foul.

The Town fans would have thought their team won the game during injury time. Docherty fizzed a cross in and the ball bounced off a Sunderland player towards goal. Fortunately for the home side Jon McLaughlin was at hand to claim the ball.

The game came to an end all level on the score sheet. Town did well to match the home side to leave the Stadium Of Light with a point.

Ticket News

Sunderland Ticket Details

27 December 2018

Ticket details for our Sky Bet League One trip to the Stadium Of Light

Sunderland v Shrewsbury Town
Saturday 29th December – 3pm Kick-Off
The Stadium Of Light
Sky Bet League One

Tickets are now on sale for our Sky Bet League One trip to The Stadium Of Light to take on Sunderland.

We have been allocated 800 tickets which are located within the North Stand Upper, Tier 3.

Adults: £20
Over 65: £17.50
Under 22: £12.50
Under 12: £7.50

Wheelchair/Ambulant: £20 (appropriate age based concession can be charged)
Personal Assistant: FOC

Tickets go off sale at 12 noon on Friday 28th of December.

Supporters can purchase at the cash turnstile (Number 71) or from the ticket office to pay with card.

There is no increase in price on the day.

Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:

•    In person at the Montgomery Waters Meadow ticket office
•    By calling 01743 273943
•    Via our online ticketing site - click here

Away tickets are set up online with the following delivery options:

Standard post
Special delivery
Collect from Shrewsbury Town - Free

Any tickets for away games not collected will be taken to the away game on the day.

If you can't make it to the game you can listen to full match commentary, or watch the game if you are an International fan, on IFollow Shrews or download the app here to listen if you are out and about - IFollow App.

Ticket News

Standings